4 Bradley players given their release- now including Ronnie Suggs

[Da Coach]

Yes, I can confirm that Barker is staying, and has been assured there is a role for him next season.

 

[carter]

Wow is all I will say.

 

[Da Coach]

Wow is all I will say.

Not really a surprise, considering the only post players on the team are Koch Bar and Callum Barker. Bar only averaged 21 minutes per game this season and is prone to foul trouble, so unless another post player is added, Callum could be an important piece to the team next year.
I also think Callum has more upside that hopefully we'll see next year. It is not unusual for big guys, especially guys like Callum who have not had the past experience playing against good competition before coming to D1, to take 3 or 4 years to reach their potential. Maybe if circumstances were different, it might have benefited Callum to redshirt a year, like Northern Iowa does with all their incoming freshman big players.
Here is an example- Bennett Koch, the UNI center, redshirted his first year, then as a redshirt freshman he played very little and averaged just 1.4 ppg, then as a 3rd year soph he averaged 7.6 ppg, and this year he was a consistently very good post player and averaged 11.0 ppg. Both his 2 older brothers who played at UNI did the same, and Adam Koch, who was barely recruited, turned into the MVC Player of the Year in 2010! His other brother, Jake Koch, also turned into a pretty good player.
Big men often take more time to develop and adjust to D1, and I think Callum will be improved next year.

 

[egib52]

Wow is all I will say.

I agree with DC. Without knowing any data on exact numbers, I would say it is almost normal development of a post player to take 2-3 years to develop. As cited by DC, UNI has had success with this. Look at Maverick Morgan with the Illini, he was a 3 star (if I am remembering correctly) and he didn't start to show real improvement until the end of his junior year. In high school a lot of the "bigs" can be successful based on size alone. However, in D1 that doesn't fly, so they need to add strength, speed and improve footwork. I really wasn't wanting anyone to leave unless the coaching staff thought that there was no more development to be had, but Callum is one that I think with the right coaching could be productive for us.

 

[Jim]

Good Luck Ronnie!!Most of us didn't get a chance to know you but loved your competitive attitude and your smile could light up a room.You will be successful no matter where you go.

I agree 100%. I'll never understand why Ronnie did not get to play more this year, but I'm sure he will find a team that appreciates what he brings to the table. Great smile and very supportive attitude. Best of luck Ronnie!

 

[Jim]

With Ronnie Suggs leaving, it opens 1 additional scholarship for 2017, which means it is likely the coaches will offer and land one more new recruit.

What kind of player will they target?

I hope we can land a strong post player that can play good defense without fouling and can catch the ball.

 

[Da Coach]

I agree with DC. Without knowing any data on exact numbers, I would say it is almost normal development of a post player to take 2-3 years to develop. As cited by DC, UNI has had success with this. Look at Maverick Morgan with the Illini, he was a 3 star (if I am remembering correctly) and he didn't start to show real improvement until the end of his junior year....

Another good example was a player Brian Wardle helped recruit and coach at Green Bay. 7-foot center Alec Brown was not a real highly recruited kid in high school, but Green Bay saw his potential, and he developed into a 1st team All-Horizon League, Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year, lead them to their best record in decades, and was drafted by the NBA. He is currently playing in the D-League with the Windy City Bulls.

Not saying all big men develop as hoped. Bradley has had a few who did not. But most did if they stayed 4 years. Will Egolf, even despite 2 major reconstructive knee surgeries, stuck it out and was a very good player his final season, averaged double digits, became a pretty good perimeter shooter, and helped give Geno his only winning season.
Does anyone remember Jeff Rabey? He was kind of terrible his junior season (he came from a juco). I recall a lot of fans who wanted Coach Molinari to get rid of him, but he turned into a very effective post player his senior season for Coach Mo. He averaged just 1.5 ppg and 2.4 rpg his junior year, then improved to 7.0 ppg, a team-leading 7.3 rpg, and 2.5 blocks per season his senior year.
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/jeffrey-rabey-1.html

 

[Dub]

I agree 100%. I'll never understand why Ronnie did not get to play more this year, but I'm sure he will find a team that appreciates what he brings to the table. Great smile and very supportive attitude. Best of luck Ronnie!

During his freshman season, Ronnie passed the "eye test" as being the player with the highest ceiling on our squad. I'll probably never know for sure what happened, but I don't believe this was a talent issue, nor an effort issue. There are other legit reasons that things don't work out, and it's too bad.

He will probably move on and put up some sick performance numbers elsewhere like Joah Tucker.

 

[pfcmsh]

Best Of Good Fortune To Ronnie

Best Of Good Fortune To Ronnie

Apparently, it has not been released by Bradley yet, but I do have permission from the family of Ronnie Suggs to share that Ronnie was granted his release from Bradley on Tuesday, by Coach Wardle.

I thought Ronnie was a good player and a credit to Bradley. I wish it would have worked out, but only Coach Wardle knows why.

I wish Ronnie and his family all the best of good fortune ahead. Ronnie will do well where ever he goes. He comes from a great family!

 

[LongTimeFan]

Most of the MVC's centers are not the big physical type and are much quicker. The only exception, that I can think of, is Wichita big men who are both quick and physical. Quickness can be taught to some extent but is usually hard to do.

I doubt the additional recruit will be a big physical type or that would have given added depth that, as DC mentioned, Bradley currently lacks. It will probably be a point guard, see Sloan, or a shooter. You can't have enough shooters. I, also, believe it will be a high school player. The best chance for a JC player was a big banger.

Oh, I have been wrong before and I will be again.

 

[Bradleyfan1]

So we feel like this is all that are leaving?

 

[Da Coach]

Most likely, yes.

 

[tornado]

Still no word on where Ronnie Suggs is transferring to, but there's some evidence as to where he was this past weekend..

at an alumni reunion & game at his prep school Vermont Academy